Universal joint



Apr. 3, 1923 H. w. BELL UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Jan. 11; 1921 drawingPatented Apr. 3, 1923.

HARVEY W. BELL, OF YONKER-S, NEW YO an, assronon 'ro 'rrrn BELov'rCORPORA- TION, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application filed January 11, 1921. Serial No. 436,434.

To all 207mm it may conccmi:

Be it known that I, HARVEY IV. BELL, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Yonkers, Vestchester County, and State of ew York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Joints, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My present invention has for its gel eral objects to simplify andimprove the construction of universal joints and further to increase theflexibility and durability of devices of this character.

These objects I have attained in the construction disclosed in theaccompanying which illustrates but one of the forms the invention maytake.

Figure 1 is a face view of the joint with the near length of shaftingappearing in section.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on substantially the plane ofline 2-2 of Figure 1 and with the two sections of connected shaftingindicated as broken away. I

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the joint as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view on a smaller scale of a preferred form offlexible connecting means.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of one of the clamps taken onsubstantially the plane of line. 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a face view of one of the clamping elements.

In Figure 2 I have shown at 10 and 11 two sections of shafting connectedby the universal joint. Atfixed to the shaft section 10 is a collar 12having radially extending diametrically opposite outstanding arms 13,14c and similarly, the shaft section 11 has aiiixed to it a collar 15carrying diametrically opposite radially extending arms 16, 17.

Each of the radial arms described terminates in a clamp element 18, withwhich cooperates a cap or companion clamp ele ment 19 held by a securingbolt 20.

A special feature of these cooperating clamp elements or jaws 18, 19 isthat they are arranged on radial lines, as indicated at 21' in Figure 1.

Engaged between the clamping jaws are strips 22 of suitable connectingfabric, such as rubber impregnated canvas belting and in words,

order to better hold in the clamps, I have shown the facesof the clampsas corrugated, as at 23 in Figure 6, a special feature of thesecorrugations being that they also are arranged'on radial lines, the sameas the jaws, as will be clear from Figure 1.

In Figure 1 I have shown how the strips of connecting medium form ineffect a quadrangular fi ure, the ends of the strips being cutdiagonally as at 24 to abut on radial lines, the force of the clampsbeing suflicientto secure the abutting strips in this relation. Toprovide 'the necessarv strength, the strips may be built up in a numberof different layers, as I have indicated in Figures 2 and 3. Y

The joint of this invention will be seen to be both simple andpractical, an especially important point being that no lubrication isrequired and that while the joint is extremely flexible, the twisting ofthe connecting medium at any one point is so slight as to cause noinjury or appreciable wear. This added flexibility and wearing qualityis due in large part to the radial arrangement of the clamping faceswhich are thus enabled to transmit the load to the flexible connectingmedium without straining or twisting any one part more than anotherpart. In other the load is carried to the fabric practically evenly onlines substantially at right an les to the lines of applied force. Theconstruction, it will be seen, also provides for reversal of power, thejoint being operative to drive as well in both directions.

While the two-armed spider construction illustrated gives the greatestflexibility, it is possible that under certain conditions, three or morearmed spiders might be preferable. My invention, therefore, contemplatesthis and other modifications of the structure and I further wish itunderstood that the terms employed herein are used in a descriptiverather than in a limiting sense, except for such limitations as may berequired by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a universal joint, strips of flexible fabric arranged end to endin the form of a polygon, the adjoining ends of the several strips beingangled to fit closely together in the ends of the strips arms carryingclamps each engaging other substantially abutting relation, a couplingmember having arms carrying clamps each engaging end portions of twoadjoining strips, and a second coupllng member having clamps are angledto fit the corners formed by the abutting strips and each extend acrossthe full Width of both abutting strips. 1 In witness whereof, I havehereunto set my hand this 10th (lay of January, 1921. end portions ofadjoining strips.

2. The structure of claim 1 in Which the HARVEY W, BELL.

